Doomsday Predictions Part of New Speakers Series at Museum

According to Harold Camping, founder of Family Radio Network, a Christian radio network based in Oakland, the world was supposed to end May 21. When it didn't, Camping said it was a spiritual end of the world and would be complete by October 21.

The prediction prompted followers to sell off their homes, not pay credit cards and quit their jobs. One pets to make sure they wouldn't be left behind after the Rapture was complete. Luckily, his neighbors interceded.

Doomsday predictions have been around as long as organized religion, as priests and others sought out clues in texts for the meaning of the world and when it might end.

Now a new speaker series at the  will bring experts in natural disasters, astronomy, and the ancient Mayan hieroglyphics, to explore the stories behind the predictions.

“I think this will be really ground-breaking," said Joe Noriel, museum president of the new series. "We’re trying to cover as many bases as possible, which is hard when there are already hundreds of books on the subject.” 

In addition to academics, a group of local religious leaders including Rev. Blythe Sawyer of the , Rabbi Ted Feldman of and others will discuss biblical scripture.

With 2012 Doomsday hype spreading like wildfire with pseudo-science blockbuster movies, books and television shows, audience members can get answers from experts for the price of admission-- just $5. 

The talks start Sept. 1 with the “Disaster Man” himself, Matt Davis, and Ph.D. co-chair of the Psychology Dept. at Dominican University. Davis teaches courses in social psychology, social influence, statistics and research, human sexuality, media psychology and a specialty course called Natural Disasters: Societal & Individual Reactions to Risk.

Davis has completed two large-scale research projects in Italy on the public awareness of volcanic hazards in the vicinity of Mt. Vesuvius. Most recently he was part of the evaluation of the psychological effects of participating in the earthquake preparedness effort, “Get Ready Marin” and CERT disaster preparedness training sessions in Marin County. You may have also seen him on the History Channel.

I asked him if he was filling sandbags or stuffing a mattress with cash because of 2012 “End of Days” hysteria. He just laughed.

“I don’t think a significant number of people are truly frightened. The media does a wonderful job of blowing things all out of proportion, whipping up a frenzy. That’s what is  easy to get caught up in,” said Davis.

Backstory on Davis: One of his biggest influences on career choice was the 1970’s mega-movie “Earthquake.”

“I’m originally from Massachusetts and I’ve always been fascinated by California earthquakes. After “Earthquake” I was just always interested in earth sciences,” he said.

“In general, the best way to combat fear and anxiety is to learn more about it. The more people understand natural disasters, the more they’re likely to say, now I know what to do to take precautions. If you’re too afraid, you go into denial,” he said.

Additional speakers include David Morrison of the NASA Ames Research Center who will present “Surviving 2012 and Other Cosmic Disasters” on Sept. 2 and Judith Dides who will give a talk called “Mayan Hieroglyphics, the Calendar and 2012” on Sept. 9.

That's certainly plenty of food for thought as we head into what could be our final year on Earth.  Or not. 

“What was amazing as I tracked down experts was that they all enthusiastically wanted to participate. They really want to encourage this type of examination of the topic,” said Noriel.

For more information about the series, visit PetalumaMuseum.com